bigwavedave

I'm not that old! But Huttner's blog promises that winter's just around the corner, especially for Duluth. http://blogs.mprnews.org/updraft/2015/12/monday-slop-storm-rain-sleet-and-snow/

Just made plans for attending the 2016 Aspen Trenchin' Convention. They've been having a pretty good winter so far...Buttermilk yesterday...from SoftBootSailer's post... Looks like we might get snowmaking weather later in the week. This is the worst start to winter I can remember. Anyone else think DonPablo looks a lot like John Travolta in that clip at the bottom of Buck in post #46? Funny, you never know what someone really looks like under all their winter garb.

Hey Fred, I've got some Bomber bindings, if you're interested, for $150 if you take them with the board. http://forums.bomberonline.com/index.php?/topic/42257-td2s-standard%E2%94%80clip-in-with-td3-base-175-shipped/

I was going to wait until I got a few more days on this board, but it looks like winter is on hold here, and I'm bored. Basically, I told Bruce I wanted his version of a race board, with all the latest tweaks, but with a narrow range side cut. A big brother for my 175 11-12scr REV. We settled on a 179 with a 13-14scr and 20.5 waist. Nose 25.7 Tail 25.2 Taper 5mm Two weeks later, I had a new board! I promised to give some feedback and I think our correspondence provides a good review of this board and what fun it can be to work with Bruce: I built it a few days ago and tested in on Fri. SUCCESS! Real nice rhythmic feel from edge to edge with decent pop. Snow was still a bit sugary so I couldn't really push it as consistently as hard as I would have liked to. Enters turns very confidently. The stiffer race mid and tail allow the bend to transfer a bit more towards the nose which helps with that. It is really very similar to the VSR FCs I built a few years ago. Those were modeled off of race boards but this version of course has the latest tweaks. May just have to reintroduce that model. Big difference is the near radial sidecut. So I'm in the shower and think to myself ( best thinking often happens there) this design is a bit of a revelation. Simply putting together a few previous designs in a new package and the outcome sure was fun. So of course I say, yeah, got the new name " Revelation" Then 5 seconds go by and I think hmmm, kinda sounds like Rev (-: Hi Bruce, Got out yesterday on some pretty nice snow, firm packed sugary groom in below freezing temps! I need to ride it again to give you better feedback because I was having too much fun and not really thinking too much about how it rode. Initial impressions are that it is very smooth, the groom was firm with some irregular surface, but I wasn't really aware of it until I got bounced into the air a couple of times, but the board handled it like a champ. DCW I'll get you some feedback soon too, just made a duplicate for myself and put it in the press a minute ago(-: Look forward to your findings. BV Hi Bruce, Rode the Revelation for 4 hours straight yesterday on near perfect, firm packed powder (1-2" deep trenches) at Indianhead. The best carving within a days drive, wide, smooth slopes including some fairly steep, albeit short sections. First of all, after riding last week, I decided to move the bindings 1cm (1 set of inserts) forward of the centered reference stance. Felt like I put too much pressure on the tail and not enough on the nose. I think I mostly ride centered and tend to get in the back seat in a fast acceleration, so appreciate the stiffer tail giving me something to push off into the next turn. I was even getting a little air in the transitions when I wanted it. Overall, the ride is super smooth over variable surfaces, really seems to absorb lumps and bumps, and exceptional edge hold on ice. Very easy and quick edge to edge. I think the softness in the nose makes it ease into a turn before it really locks in, and then if I push into it, I can really bend the board into a surprisingly tight turn. I felt like a better rider, no worries about that patch of ice or that bump, I could feel confident that the board would handle it. This is probably all stuff you already know. I wish I could give you some constructive criticism. I think you really nailed it! I enjoy having 2 similar boards with different personalities. To make a general comparison I think the Revelation feels more like a Kessler (except a little more fun and lively), whereas the REV feels more like an SG. I'm very happy with the board, so thank you. David Wiencke The feedback is always welcome. I put extensive mileage on mine over the last few days and one thing I also found was I needed to move about 1 cm forwards to get the balance point. This if good info as I will adjust that insert placement in the next similar boards I build after checking the dimensions to educate myself as to the need for that. I rode it dead centered on the inserts but needed to lean a bit more forwards to keep the nose settled, I'm often too lazy to adjust things(-: Others who rode it also found the smoothness and energy from edge to edge. Testing it back to back with a softer mid section board like an EC or Nirvana, they will hang in a bit better on hard and icy snow while using less than ideal technique but the pop from the Revelation definitely adds a level of excitement. I somewhat knew this stuff but I have been surprised before during testing so its always good to verify things. Thanks for the great inspiration to put those designs together. Often it happens that any new boards come from riders ideas and I just put together what they ask for if it makes sense. In this case it certainly made sense(-: Cheers, BV

Yea, I know Dan. I can't go to Welch tomorrow though. Call or pm me through the forum and we can arrange something. 763-788-nine seven nine seven.

In addition to Coiler, don't forget to check with the hosts of the forum or Donek if you want a new carving board. They can certainly help you find a suitable board. Wouldn't hurt to email each of them and find out what they recommend. Apparently, you can demo gear, anytime (not just demo-days), for free from Bomber when in the Aspen area. http://www.bomberonline.com/demo-days/ ...and they will bring it to you! http://www.bomberonline.com/demo-request/

Hi Fredster, I'm asking $450 for local pick-up, $500 shipped.

Cyber Saturday price reduction bump

+2 what Cory said. Good all all-mt carver for Telluride, similar to your Alp, but way, way better. There will likely be a bit of a wait for delivery for a new Coiler build. Then go to the Aspen trench'n convention in Feb, like Futahaguro said, where you can demo all the equipment.

Picture of Buck yesterday morning. Probably looks much the same this morning. Spring-like temps in the 40's forecast everyday for the next week might make this picture a memory.

Snow was kinda chunky and inconsistent on the main runs so I spent most of my time over on the bunny hill. Those first turns always feel a bit tentative anyway. Spent time dialing in the new board, rode from 10-2. Felt more like March 3rd than Dec 3rd, despite the long shadows. A couple of shots from my first run...felt pretty good. Incline baby! Hats off to Buck for a good job making snow.

Looks nice right now at Buck. Snowmaking overnight, sun is out! T-nuts secured! http://www.buckhill.com/winter/clocktowercam.html

"Welcome to the season formally known as winter" ─Paul Huttner, NPR weatherman today. Weather outlook for the first half of December looks like we'll have spring conditions in December this year. At least there's some snow on the slopes! Meanwhile...Aspenites struggle with the dilemma of which powder boards to use Still thinking about going to Buck on Thursday.

backside scootch 180 and Scootch-leg --that's why I stick to carving With rain and snow mixed in the forecast for tomorrow, I may wait til Thursday to come out to Buck.

Won't have to spin my wheels much longer. Looks like we have a nice snow storm on it's way! Thinking I might come play in the new snow on Tuesday and/or Thurs AM at Buck.

From a 1996 Rossi brochure. The 171 Throttle was the longest in the line-up. Waist 19cm . SCR 13m. Foam core. Suggested rider wt 130-200lbs, soft for today's "bigger" riders. The Accelerator had 21cm waist, but a somewhat tight 10m scr on the longest, a 165cm. They were also pretty soft, suggested ride wt 110-170lbs. Rode both these boards when they were new and they stayed in the closet after getting a Donek FC1. Not surprised PureCarve designed and built a board suited for the soft powdery Aspen groom. Not so good for midwest icy firm groom, prefer a metal board for that. Although, I have found that I prefer an old style glass board on the softer snow. Right now that is a 180 Incline with a 23.5cm waist and a 11.5 scr. Oh, and the guy riding that Throttle was featured in the snowboarding segments of the upcoming film "Search for Freedom".

We went to all 3 nights of films. One of the best was "The Search for Freedom" (special edit about 20min). A more appropriate titled might be "The Quest for Now". It features all kinds of outdoor activities from surfing and snowboarding to windsurfing and mt biking and climbing, to wing suit flying...and interviews with pioneers and greats of each sport coupled with fantabulous, mesmerizing cinematography. It was a beautiful experience and it got to the core of our addiction. Here's a link to the trailer, which doesn't really do the movie justice, but worth a look http://thesearchforfreedom.com/trailer/ And a memorable quote from the film... " Many claim that the freedom experienced when you are riding a moving wave, becoming part of that wave for an instant, is impossible to shake. It’s a state of grace. And it’s the same whether you’re sliding on snow, skateboarding on concrete, or mountain biking through a rainforest. Veteran surf publisher Steve Pezman taps into the source: “The wave is forming in front of you, the wave is over your head, your wake is disappearing, your footprints are washed from the beach. There’s no material production from having done it. There’s no depletion. There’s no creation. It’s just an aesthetic instant.” That aesthetic instant is the real subject of The Search for Freedom."

Quite a difference from the other day--that's a depressing web-cam view of Buck. Wild's snow cover is holding up better: http://www.wildmountain.com/webcam Don't like being reduced to watching videos and weather forecasts while the lonely quiver waits up against the wall. El Niño has been good to Aspen so far--wish I was there.

Bohemia 2015-16 Just got this in the mail today. Looks like they're developing a new mt for snowcat service only. This may not be their year (or ours!) for snow...or even winter! Thanks El Niño http://mtbohemia.com/index.php/voodoo-mountain

There was one listed for sale in the Aspen Times a week ago. Came across it when I was looking for any current info about purecarve before I uploaded the video. Might be sold by now. http://apps.aspentimes.com/utils/c2/app/v2/index.php?do=adDetail&adId=11674923&internetCode=3&viewState=list&sort=posted|asc&fatt=false#.VlSKVnarTIU An old glass single sidecut Donek Axxess might be close too...or a Coiler all mountain of similar specs. I still have all the info and specs that Purecarve sent with the videos. Boris is pretty close: one length available...175 waist...20.9 nose...26.4 tail...25.8 effective edge...153 sidecut radius...11.2 List price $499 in 1997 These boards seem to be optimized for Aspen (soft, packed powder) conditions. Does anyone know who built the boards for Purecarve? I also love this purecarve re-edit: https://vimeo.com/10029545

That should be a really fun board for our hills. Those photos of Buck look really good, except for the thin spots. I was up in Duluth this weekend, and though Spirit's making snow, it' mostly at the top for their snowmobile race this weekend. I'll probably wait til next week to get out, likely at Wild for half price Tuesday. I plan to come help with the NorAm race at Buck on Dec 19-20 and hope to sneak in a few carves between races.

Yea, it's ah...spacer to make a td2 center-disk the same thickness as a td3 cd. Like the td3 prototypes, except the spacers are epoxy impregnated marine ply instead of aluminum. Works fine, I've ridden them on 2 or 3 different boards. I also cut out the center of the base plate, similar to the td3's, so only 4 screws to move the bindings ─a modification/improvement suggested (unofficially) by Fin .

$175 shipped to lower 48. Lightly used Bomber TD2 bindings with center-disc spacers to accept the thicker TD3 base. 3° & 6° cants. Blue (medium) density elastomers. SOLD!!! Will ship outside US if you cover any extra fees that apply.

Banff Mt film fest world tour comes to Mpls this weekend and to a movie theater near you soon. A great way to get psyched for the next season! https://youtu.be/bHnqUQ1c6yc

Wild Mt 2015-16 Believe it or not, Wild is saying they will have one run open tomorrow, and expect to open a run a day over the next several days. They always take pride in being the first to open in the state and last year they claimed fist "white-ribbon-of-death" in the nation. Usually they are 100% open by Thanksgiving. I'd be surprised this year. When I taught there, we had to show up on those first days, but I would not do it for fun, there's not enough room to carve.